Our highly optimized waste treatment facilities can efficiently sort, process and convert all types of municipal solid waste (undifferentiated, organic and dry) into reusable energy and products:
- Biogas
- Soil improver
- Electrical Energy
- Thermic Energy
- Biomethane
Thanks to numerous system advancements, it is now possible to produce more recycled energy than traditional WtE plants, while consuming less and saving more. Impressive, right? Based on one ton of European MSW, which contains an average of 45% dry waste, 40% organic waste, 15% recyclable metals, WT ENERGY’s state-of-the-art systems can produce:
- More than 650 KWh/ton of total electrical energy
- Approximately 1000 KWt via high-performance thermic cogeneration, rendering water temperatures up to 85°C.
- 100 kg of soil improver.
- 150 kg of recyclable materials: aluminum, glass and iron.
Benefits of our system:
- High biogas production thanks to high efficiency biodigestion process.
- Low energy consumption systems, with capacity to run on less than half the energy produced (via cogeneration).
- Reduced capital expenditure required.
- Modular design makes system easy to scale to project size.
- Software controlled systems reduces operation & maintenance costs.
Sorting and Recycling
Undifferentiated waste material is delivered to an enclosed, negative pressure air flow receiving area equipped with a bio filter to prevent odor from spreading outside the facility.
Waste is coarsely ground and loaded into a powerful press extrusion process where it is squeezed through a high pressure machine and converted into wet fraction and dry fraction – the whole procedure consumes less than 12 KWh per ton of waste.
During the press process, the organic waste is separated from the dry components without additional grinding, in order to preserve the quality of the organic matter.
The wet fraction, or organic material gel (OMG), is sent from the press extrusion process to the software controlled biodigestion phase where it is converted into biogas.
The biodigestion phase is comprised of two systems:
- high loading rate continuous flow stationary biodigestors (parallel coupled or in a series)
- medium loading rate continuous flow biodigestors
Thanks to advancements in process design and software controlled technology, we have successfully optimized the biodigestion process rendering it even more efficient and productive: higher efficiency = more recycled energy.
Our stainless steel biodigestors have a carefully studied coefficient of shape designed to enhance surface contact with bacteria and prevent against material compression. To further preserve the quality of the organic material, and therefore ensure a continuous biogas production.
The resulting biogas from the biodigestion process is then purified and dried, before being sent to the cogeneration engines where it is converted into electric and thermic energy.
The dry fraction from the press extrusion process is further sorted of to remove all recyclable materials: glass, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and inert materials — which can be sent to recycling centers for further processing.The remaining dry material, called RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel: 3000/4000 kcal/kg), is sent to the VLE (Very Low Emission) Steam Boiler to produce huge amounts of electrical energy and/or steam.
This technology derives from the evolution of the traditional technology in waste treatment, developed with the specific aim of finding low environmental impact solutions.
Furtthermore, the VLE technology gives an answer for the urgent need to convert numerous materials (RDF, medical waste, biomass, industrial waste) into electrical energy and/or steam in the best environmentally friendly way available so far.
Organic Waste
Our organic waste treatment systems can produce:
- Biogas
- Soil improver
- Electrical + Thermic energy
Wet organic waste is inserted into the high-tech press extrusion process where it is compressed and squeezed into an organic material fluid.
The fluid is then sent to our medium loading rate anaerobic biodigestors and converted into biogas and soil improver.
The homogeneous consistency of the organic fluid, made possible by the press extrusion phase, helps render this process even more efficient and productive.
The medium loading rate biodigestion system, developed by WT ENERGY to more efficiently ‘digest’ organic waste, is comprised of modular, continuous flow biodigestors with inclined and vertical agitators. The biodigestors are made from stainless steel to ensure a life span of +25 years — avoiding the more common problems associated with traditional cement containers.
The whole process has been optimized to guarantee a continuous flow of biogas.
In the final phases, the biogas is extracted, purified and dried before being sent to the cogenerator engines to produce energy. The remaining digested material is separated into:
- A ready-to-use high-quality soil improver (20% moisture).
- Nitrogenous water which can be used for agricultural purposes, or recycled at a wastewater facility.
Benefits of our system:
- Highly efficient biodigestion process optimizes biogas production (20% more).
- Biogas can be used to fuel internal combustion engines or gas turbines to produce electrical and thermal energy.
- Ready-to-use soil improver
- Reduced wastewater by product
- Reduced energy consumption
- Can be implemented anywhere: scaling up capabilities means less land space is required.
ROI
A typical plant processing up to 72.000 tons/year requires a capital expenditure of 50 – 55 million euro depending on location, local construction costs, fees and permits.
Based on current Italian tariffs and fees, a plant of this size could generate an EBITDA of up to 15.5 million euro per year. This translates into an IRR on investment of more than 30% and a linear payback period of approximately 3,2 years.
| Capital Expenditure | € 50 – 55 M |
| EBITDA | € 15.5 M |
| I.R.R. Investment | +30% |
| I.R.R. Investors | +152% (based on equity/debt ratio of 20/80) |
A typical plant processing up to 40.000 tons/year requires a capital expenditure of 10 – 12 million euro depending on location, local construction costs, fees and permits.
Based on current Italian tariffs and fees, a plant of this size could generate an EBITDA of up to 4.5 million euro per year. This translates into an IRR on investment of more than 38% and a linear payback period of approximately 2.5 years.
| Capital Expenditure | € 10 – 12 M |
| EBITDA | € 4.5 M |
| I.R.R. Investment | +38% |
| I.R.R. Investors | +140% (based on equity/debt ratio of 20/80) |
A typical plant processing up to 36.000 tons/year requires a capital expenditure of 32 – 35 million euro depending on location, local construction costs, fees and permits.
Based on current Italian tariffs and fees, a plant of this size could generate an EBITDA of up to 9.4 million euro per year. This translates into an IRR on investment of more than 29% and a linear payback period of approximately 3.4 years.
| Capital Expenditure | € 32- 35 M |
| EBITDA | € 9.4 M |
| I.R.R. Investment | +29% |
| I.R.R. Investors | +147% (based on equity/debt ratio of 20/80) |
Advantages
Compared to existing MSW treatment solutions, WT ENERGY systems provide clients with a number of profitable, and most importantly sustainable, advantages:
- Reduced Carbon Footprint
Public and private entities can benefit from a greener image by incorporating WtE systems into their waste management programs and thus contributing to the preservation and betterment of the local community.
- Reduced Capital Expenditure
The cost per ton to build a new plant is significantly lower than the investment required to build a modern incinerator facility, while the energy output is double that of traditional systems.
In addition, our WtE systems produce ‘renewable energy resources’ making them eligible for numerous government tax incentives and benefits.
- Reduced Operational & Management costs
Thanks to WT ENERGY’s patented software controlled system and low-energy consumption processes—not to mention self-sufficient system that can be configured to run on cogenerated energy, the operational costs (personnel, electricity, maintenance, depreciation) are significantly lower than existing traditional plants.
- Reduced Waste Tourism
WT ENERGY’s systems can be built to fit any size requirement, which means they can easily be implemented in local communities to reduce waste collection, distribution and transportation costs.
- Increased Revenue
WT ENERGY systems pay for themselves, with a high energy output (compared to traditional systems) and relatively low management costs, all that remains from: tipping fees, energy sales and material recycling is valuable income.
- Cleaner Environment
WT ENERGY systems are sustainable, environmentally friendly processes specially designed to produce more energy while consuming less. Through our innovative technology, waste is not burned but treated via mechanical, thermochermical and biological sub processes to produce clean, reusable energy and recycled materials that ultimately benefit the environment.
- New Job Opportunities
Municipalities and private companies can stimulate local economies and support surrounding communities by creating new employment opportunities for qualified young professionals.
Want to know more? Download product leaflet here or send us an email.
